Elite Model Management founder John Casablancas — who steered the careers of supermodels from Christie Brinkley to Cindy Crawford — dishes on his “superdivas” in a new doc, claiming he canned an “uncontrollable” Naomi Campbell in 1993 and bedded Stephanie Seymour when she was just 16.
“Casablancas: The Man Who Loved Women” by Hubert Woroniecki was made before Casablancas died in 2013. The infamous playboy recalls he broke up his second marriage “on account of my affair with Stephanie Seymour. She was 16 and I was 42. Of all the women I met . . . she was the only one that really broke my heart.”
He later recalls, “Meanwhile, I had to continue dealing with the egos of my superdivas, and Naomi Campbell wasn’t the least of them. Naomi is a spectacular woman: explosive, intelligent and talented, but with an uncontrollable temperament. We had hundreds of fights.”
After one incident that left a client “furious,” Casablancas claims that “Naomi used to threaten us every day that she would leave . . . I took a decision that made history. Not only did I fire her, I also sent a telegram to all our clients before she could turn around and say that she was the one who had left us.” His letter read: “Please be informed that we do not wish to represent Ms. Naomi Campbell any longer. No amount of money or prestige could further justify the abuse that has been imposed on our staff and our clients. All those who have experienced this will understand.” But, “Two years later, she was back with us . . . I must admit that I adore Naomi,” he says.
Campbell’s rep told us the depiction is “inaccurate.” “Naomi was never fired by Mr. Casablancas, but chose to leave of her own will during that time in New York. She was still with Elite in London and Paris. This was such a long time ago. Naomi has the fondest memories of working with Mr. Casablancas and considered him a friend.”
A Metrograph premiere this past week by Moët was attended by guests including Carol Alt, Paulina Porizkova, Kim Alexis, Coco Rocha, Tonne Goodman, Yigal Azrouël and Cary Leitzes.